Sunday, July 7, 2013

The appalling disputes involving the Mandela’s has left a void in the affairs of the family and that of the ruling party the ANC as mediators in one of their former leader’s affairs. The traditional values that Nelson Mandela has been moulded with from his childhood that embrace the whole concept of ubuntu managed to keep the family united and voices of decent silent until he went into a state of being critically ill and unable to make decisions. The villages of Mvezo and Qunu are not far apart and the struggle of people who live there is a correct copy of the injustices of the past and economic divisions in South Africa. The people of Mvezo and Qunu have no access to clean water and sanitation which are basic human rights in the New South Africa.

The thought of one of the greatest leader that ever lived and inspire the people of South Africa and beyond its border the world having lost the battle of economic freedom in his own village doesn’t fit the legacy that Mandela has lived for in his entire life.

It begs the desire to find out what has made Mandela fail to root out the evil of poverty and inequality in his own people of Mvezo and Qunu? There is no doubt that if during the time that Mandela was released from prison, he was ready to build a better society for all in South Africa but one man couldn't do it alone when it all matters most to the current ANC led government.

The cultivated culture of affording the representatives of the people a conditioning allowances to maintain South Africa the way it would have been even if the apartheid government representatives would have been in charge is what went wrong during the time when South Africa tasted its freedom.

The battle of economic freedom for the majority of South Africans has been lost and everywhere you go in South Africa you see people who live side by side as a divided society due to economic inequality.

The situation of the Mandela family could have been handled in a matter of dignity and privacy that it deserves without the infighting that necessitated the reburial of human remains of two of Madiba’s children.

The startling conclusion in the Mandela family has been that of taking advantage of the ailing Madiba.

There is no doubt that Mandela’s capacity to challenge any family battles was diminished two years ago when the family feud reached climax when the reburial of remains was undertaken.

There is scepticism that even at the age of 94 people all over the world still expects Madiba to fight the natural process of aging and nature doesn’t allow it but despite all this, people all over the world continue to keep Madiba and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

For those who still believe the Nobel Peace Prize winning South African icon is alive

It has already been noted by the world’s media, and other sources, that Madiba, the beloved former President of South Africa, had a history of health problems, going back to at least January 2011. If one looks at the facts surrounding his latest decline, one can see the unfolding tragedy of Nelson Mandela’s death and the travesty of the cover-up that surrounded it.

While the rest of the world is convinced that the 94 year-old icon for peace is still alive and fighting for his life, our sources still maintain that the great man died last week as we originally reported. Our journalist in South Africa, Laura Oneale, has put together a timeline that shows how Nelson Mandela’s health deteriorated and what actions were taken by his family and those in power in South Africa. For those of you who still believe that the Nobel Peace Prize winning man is alive; read the timeline, the clues are there.

January 2011: Spent two days in hospital for acute respiratory infection.

February 2012: Received exploratory surgery to probe for abdominal pain.

December 2012: Spent nearly three weeks in hospital for recurring lung infection.

June 9, 2013: Wife Graca cancels London Trip. Mac Maharaj ANC government spokesperson says that Mandela can breathe on his own, his heath is serious, but stable.

June 11, 2013: Second announcement from government officials, President Zuma says, critical but stable and the best doctors and medical care is being given. States that Mandela’s doctors are “making him better.” Security highlighted and more intense, only family members allowed to visit Madiba.

June 14, 2013: First week in intensive care. President Zuma still says that Madiba is getting better, although his heath is still critical, but stable. Mandela’s daughter returns from Argentina.

June 15, 2013: President Zuma visits the increasingly frail Mandela and reports that he is still critical, but stable.

June 22, 2013: Madiba becomes unresponsive to treatment and family discuss how much medical intervention can be given. Reports state that his kidney’s and liver are functioning at 50 percent, and that he is still critical but stable. Mandela’s grandson tells media that he is getting better.

The news of the ambulance breakdown on June 8 is revealed and how Mandela was stranded for more than 40 minutes before a replacement vehicle arrived. Cardiac problems mentioned.

June 23, 2013: Family summoned to hospital. Presidency announced on Sunday that the 94 year-old icon’s condition has worsened and become critical in the last 24 hours.

June 24/25, 2013: Johannesburg – The DA is saddened by the news of the former South African president’s declining heath. Democratic Alliance spokesperson Mmusi Maimane releases a statement on Monday saying, “The news from the presidency that former President Mandela is now in a critical condition came as a blow to all South Africans.” Media begins reporting on funeral plans.

Qunu family meeting with elders of village discuss gravesite preparations and sensitive family matters. Grandson storms out of the meeting. That same day,

The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, joins the Mandela family at the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital where Mandela was being treated.

Gravediggers at grave site and streets in Qunu being repaired.

June 27, 2013: Report that Mandela has died and the government cannot announce or confirm as it would overshadow American President Obama’s visit to the country. Mandela’s death would create a security nightmare, as crowd response would most likely emulate the public reaction to Chris Hani’s death in 1993. Mandela’s daughter visits gravesite in Qunu.

June 27, 2013: Danish newspaper reports Mandela’s death and within minutes pull the article. Australian politician makes public apology for stating that Mandela has died. Mandela family lash out at media and accuse them of being insensitive.

The Guardian Express, who reported Mandela’s death has website attacked by a South African Source.

Grandson Mandla in family dispute over burial and a court interdict filed.

Reports that the Pretoria Military Chapel has been equipped to receive Mandela’s body in preparation of funeral.

June 28, 2013: Media given one hour to remove their vehicle from outside Mandela’s hospital.

Obama arrives in South Africa, conflicting reports on Mandela from Government and family that state the icon is getting better. Thousands of social media reports confirming that Mandela is dead.

June 29, 2013:Preparation and chart of funeral procession is published

Max Sisulu, ANC spokesperson states that Mandela’s condition is improving.

President Obama meets with Mandela family for brief meeting and doesn’t visit Nelson Mandela at the family’s request. President Zuma announces that there is a “flicker of hope” for Mandela and his ex-wife Winnie states that he is getting better.

Former president FW De Klerk cancels holiday (vacation) plans and returns to South Africa.

Local news reports highlight President Obama’s visit and only a few references to Mandela are mentioned. President Zuma states that Mandela’s condition is unchanged and that he will, hopefully, get better soon and be discharged from the hospital.

That concludes the “health timeline” of Nelson Mandela. Our sources continue to re-affirm that Nelson Mandela died last week as we initially and truthfully reported. We have received news of more sources who have come forward to report to us that Madiba did indeed die last week as we reported.

We have further information about the great man’s death that will be written about in another article. We know, for example, that the British government approached the South African government on June 30, 2013 and requested permission to hold a memorial service for Nelson Mandela and that the Queen will be attending.

Doesn’t sound like they believe the lie that Mandela is getting better either.

Our sources, combined with the sustained two-day attack on our website from South Africa, have led us to believe even more firmly that our report was correct.

If you read the health timeline for the South African icon of peace, you can see where propaganda and misinformation from the South African president and his government begin. The death of Nelson Mandela was a tragedy and the cover-up, a travesty. That the Mandela family has been coerced into backing the lie is obvious. We stand firm on our claim that the great man died last week and we know that this travesty will soon be over.

Written by Michael Smith (United Kingdom), based on a timeline by Laura Oneale (South Africa)Contributor: Graham J Noble (United States)

After weeks of speculation, South African court documents revealed that Nelson Mandela is, by all intended purposes, dead.

What followed his death is a tale of dishonesty and denial – staining the South African Government and its public institutions.

The documents, part of a legal filing in a Mandela family dispute, reveal that doctors told the family of the former President that “He is in a permanent vegetative state and is assisted in breathing by a life support machine…The Mandela family has been advised by the medical practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off.”

The court documents containing this revelation are dated June 26th; one day before The Guardian Expressreported that Madiba – the tribal name by which Mandela is often known – had passed away.

Mandela’s health had been declining for some time and on June 8th, he was rushed to the Medi-clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria to be treated for a recurring lung infection. As the days passed, South Africans gathered in vigil outside the hospital and the South African government urged people to pray for the former President, who is considered a hero in South Africa for leading the nation out of Apartheid and becoming the county’s first black national leader.

Updates on Mandela’s health have fluctuated between ominous and optimistic in the days and weeks that followed. The whole nation was mired in dishonesty and denial over Mandela’s death. On June 23rd, South African government officials announced that his condition had deteriorated and CNN reported that he was now no longer able to breathe unassisted and had been placed on life support. On June 25th, the day that – according to The Guardian Express – Mandela died, his closest family members had gathered for a meeting in his childhood home of Qunu, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. That evening, the family was joined at Mandela’s bedside by Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. Nelson Mandela was Christian, although there seems some dispute as to which branch of the faith he belonged. A family gathering at his bedside, with an Archbishop in attendance, on the very evening that – according to The Guardian Express – he passed away, seems more than coincidental.

Days later, South African President Jacob Zuma – along with other government and ANC officials – were describing Mandela’s condition as improving. Zuma repeatedly told the People of South Africa that the nation’s beloved icon was “critical but stable”.

We now know that Zuma and the ANC were lying. The Guardian Express timeline of events can be found here. Even if Mandela had been still alive, there is no possibility that his condition was improving. According to the McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine, a “permanent vegetative state” – more commonly called “persistent vegetative state” (PVS) – is a condition characterized by “no behavioral evidence of awareness of self or surroundings in a learned manner, other than reflex activity of muscles and nerves for low level conditioned response,” and “from which to a reasonable degree of medical probability, there can be no recovery.”

Cheryl Arenella MD, MPH, in an article entitled Coma and Persistent Vegetative State: An Exploration of Terms, writes “A person in a vegetative state can no longer “think,” reason, relate meaningfully with his/her environment, recognize the presence of loved ones, or “feel” emotions or discomfort. The higher levels of the brain are no longer functional.”

Later reports from South Africa revealed ongoing construction of new roads in Qunu; presumably, to accommodate mourners. In addition – even whilst official accounts insisted that the former President and leader of the African National Congress (ANC) was still clinging to life– reports emerged of a legal tussle between Mandela family members, regarding the site of his eventual resting place. Most assumed that Mandela would be buried in Qunu, where he grew up and had his retirement home. Grandson Mandla Mandela, however, had planned to ensure that his grandfather was laid to rest in the nearby village of Mvezo, where he, Mandla, holds the position of chief. Mandla had already had the bodies of three of Mandela’s children exhumed from their graves in Qunu and reburied in Mvezo. Other family members are currently attempting to have the courts compel Mandla to return the bodies to Qunu. It is this legal battle that led to the revelation over Mandela’s condition. What’s more, one might ask, why would Mandla execute such an action if he believed his grandfather would recover? Did Mandela’s grandson know he would never have to answer to Madiba? How did he know?

Media organizations – both in South Africa and overseas – have been criticized for speculating over Mandela’s condition, particularly since he wasreadmitted to the hospital. The government, the ANC organization and members of Mandela’s family have been urging people to remain calm and have also expressed their displeasure with the press. Although there have been numerous erroneous reports of Mandela’s passing from as early as late 2012, The Guardian Express was the first media organization in the United States – possibly, the world – to report his death as having happened Tuesday evening; this, after our South African correspondent, Laura Oneale, was notified by a very well-placed source. Even after publishing the news Wednesday, The Guardian Express, whilst having complete confidence in this source, continued its attempts to uncover further details and determine why news of Mandela’s death, or at least his presumption of death, was being concealed. Without absolute confirmation of the reasons behind the cover-up,The Guardian Express initially decided to publish no further articles on the subject. Likely factors, however, were security fears, particularly in light of President Obama’s important, impending arrival.

The decision regarding whether or not to publish the story was not easy; one of the site’s senior editors argued against it. The site initially published three stories, commenting on his death – links to these stories are listed at the foot of this article. The original source – because of their position – was determined to have sufficient credibility, although The Guardian Express senior staff continued searching for further information, including several phone calls to Mandela’s hospital. At no point, during any of these calls, were journalists or editors from The Guardian Express told that Mandela was alive; on one such call, the question “is Mandela Alive?” was asked and was met by a lengthy pause, followed by the statement that staff members did not have any information and had been told to give out no information.

In the interests of journalistic integrity, the site was not prepared to retract the story unless conclusive evidence was obtained that showed Mandela still to be alive; no such evidence was discovered, neither at that time, nor at any time since. Other media outlets that published word of Madiba’s passing quickly retracted their stories.

Since the publication of the first articles relating to Mandela’s death, every assertion that he was still alive has originated from Jacob Zuma, ANC officials and/or the Mandela family, who, sadly, appear to have been coerced or duped into perpetuating the deception. Every media outlet that continues to report on the state of Mandela’s health is basing its reporting on official sources and interviews with family members. No-one, other than the medical staff at the Medi-clinic Heart Hospital, the family or the government has seen Mandela since the day The Guardian Express reported his death. Not even President Obama was allowed to see him. There is, therefore, not one shred of evidence that he remains alive. The Guardian Express, however, has a very well-placed source confirming that Mandela is no longer with us. In that light, breaking the story was a bold, but logical, decision.

According to a report Thursday in South Africa’s Independent Online, the Mandela family has refused to allow his life-support apparatus to be switched off until the remains of his children are relocated to Qunu. If this is, in fact, the only reason that Mandela is still, to this day, on life support, then the family has already accepted that he is dead; they are merely delaying making the fact ‘technically’ final, in order that the respected elder statesman not be buried alone.

Although Mandela’s death is all but officially admitted – and likely will not be- (as this would confirm that the South African government has been deceiving the nation) The Guardian Express has always maintained that he did, in fact, leave us Tuesday evening, as reported. This belief is confirmed by several factors, one being that between Tuesday evening and the present time, no evidence has been produced that Mandela was still alive. Additionally, The Guardian Express website has, over the past few days, been subjected to several cyber attacks, which have taken the site offline for varying periods of time. These attacks appear to have originated in South Africa. Were it true that Mandela had still been alive after The Guardian Express reported his death, the publication would almost certainly have received official – and, quite possibly, even legal – demands for a retraction and apology. Instead, the website has been the target of crude attempts to silence it. Has the ANC graduated from actual terrorism to cyber terrorism?

As anticipation of President Obama’s visit mounted, the White House was quick to play down the prospects of a visit to Mandela’s bedside. In hindsight, it is clear that this was an attempt to preempt the embarrassing and precarious situation of Obama being forced to pretend to have met with a dead man.

The government of South Africa, assuming – correctly – that the man’s death will be the overwhelming focus of the world’s attention, will probably never address the issue of exactly when he died. Their assertion, regarding the timing of his death, may never been disproven. By the same token, The Guardian Express reports of his death Tuesday will stand, without verifiable contradiction.

There will be those who maintain we were premature and not accurate, but the impeccable credentials of our South African source completely neutralize those claims.

Not wanting to lose their icon, the majority of South Africans have been in denial over Mandela’s death, resulting in their eager acceptance of their government’s dishonesty.

The Guardian Express does not cheer Mandela’s passing, but – now that these court documents reveal the true date of his death – its reporting on the matter stands alone.

As for Madiba, history will be good to him. Although he was no saint, he was – undeniably – a hero and an inspiration to many.